Athletics and science summer camps

Saint Mary’s University summer camps offer exciting opportunities for hands-on learning, skill-building and fun for kids and teens! Check out our science and Jr. Huskies athletics camps available this summer.

Science

Marine Mammal Camp 
July 29-August 7, 2023
Ages 14-17

Campers will work together to explore the biology and evolution of marine mammals using surveys, photo-identification, acoustic monitoring, DNA analysis, examination of marine mammal skeletons, and more! Camp begins at Saint Mary’s University and moves to Campobello Island, New Brunswick, where campers will participate in the daily operations of scientific fieldwork and field camp life.

Marine Mammal Summer Camp is presented by Saint Mary’s University and the Canadian Whale Institute.

Due to the nature of the camp and the travel involved, there are limited spaces for campers. Because of this, interested students must apply and be accepted to Marine Mammal Camp before they can register. Applications are due by April 11, 2023.

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Forensic Science Camp

• July 10-14, 2023

• July 17-21, 2023

9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Ages: 14-17

This camp will introduce campers to the basics of the field of forensic science. Through hands-on application of lab and field-based research techniques and practices, campers will work together to explore how the sciences are applied in forensic situations as well as the theories and principles underlying these applications.

Cost is $375. Applications are due by May 8, 2023.

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Jr. Huskies Athletics

Basketball

All genders
Five-Day Camp
July 3-7, 2023
9 a.m.-4 p.m. (Supervised from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Ages 5-12

Five days of fundamental skill development, modified games and fun-filled basketball activity. Quality coaching by Varsity Head Coaches for Men's and Women's Basketball, assistant coaches and some of the best student-athletes in Canada. The cost is $240, which includes a camp t-shirt.

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Boys

Five-Day Camps

• July 24-28, 2023

• July 31-August 4, 2023

• August 7-11, 2023

9 a.m.-4 p.m. (Drop-offs and pick-ups between 8 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Ages 5-13

Emphasis on individual skill development and team concepts of offence and defence. Also, skills contests, game situation drills and full-court games. Quality coaching by Varsity Head Coach Jonah Taussig and Men's Basketball Huskies members. There is limited registration for each camp, and cost is $240, including a camp t-shirt.

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Girls

Five-Day Camps

• July 10-14, 2023

• August 14-18, 2023

9 a.m.-4 p.m. (Drop-offs and pick-ups between 8 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Ages 5-13

These camps emphasize individual skill development and team concepts of offence and defence. Also, skills contests, game situation drills and full-court games. Quality coaching for girls’ basketball camp by Head Coach Scott Munro and Women's Varsity Huskies members. The cost is $240, which includes a camp t-shirt.

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Hockey

All genders

SMU Prospects Training Camp
August 28-31, 2023
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Players born 2010-2011, 2011-2012, and 2013-2014
Girls: born 2009-2010

For Elite Level AA/AAA players. Extensive off-ice training, information and exposure to cutting-edge training techniques. On-ice sessions focus on five skills components, competing situations and small area games. Interactive classroom teaching and specialized individual goaltender training.

Registration is limited. The cost is $425, which includes a hockey jersey.

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Goaltending Camp
August 1-4, 2023 (4 day camp)
Players born 2010-2012: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
2008-2009: 8:45 a.m.-3 p.m.
2007+: 2:30 p.m.-5 p.m.

Multiple on-ice daily sessions plus classroom sessions and off-ice activities for 2010-2012 & 2008-2009 groups. 2007+ group has one on-ice session and off-ice gym/workout per day.

Registration is limited. The cost is $599, which includes a hockey jersey. 2007+ group cost is $259.

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Boys

Jr. Huskies Dynamic Skating and Skills
August 7-11, 2023
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Players born 2011-2012, 2013-2014 (FULL DAY): 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Players born 2017-2018 (HALF DAY): 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Players born 2015-2016 (HALF DAY): 12:30-4:30 p.m.

Extensive off-ice training, information and exposure to cutting-edge training techniques. On-ice sessions include five skills components, competing situations and small area games. Daily goaltender instruction and interactive classroom teaching.
Registration is limited. The cost is $250 for a half-day and $495 for a full day, including a hockey jersey.

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Jr. Huskies Defensive and Offensive Camps
August 21-25, 2023
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Players born 2011-2012 & 2013-2014: Scoring & Battling Camp
Players born 2011-2012 & 2013-2014: Advanced Defensive Development

Defensive camp on-ice sessions include lateral and backward skating, situational passing, shooting from the point and defending. Offensive camp on-ice sessions include shooting, deking, scoring skills in small spaces, balance/strength on skates, puck protection, and power moves for body positioning. 1:5 instructor-to-student ratio and interactive classroom teaching. Ten hours (minimum) of on-ice training.

Registration is limited. The cost is $549 which includes a hockey jersey.

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Girls

Five-Day Development Camp
August 14-18, 2023
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Players born 2011-2012, 2013-2014, 2015-2017

All sessions are run by SMU coaching staff and players. This an excellent opportunity to get ready for the upcoming season! This week-long camp is designed for players wanting to improve all aspects of their game. The daily schedule includes two on-ice sessions, off-ice fitness, an off-ice puck skills session and an instructional classroom session. Players will be challenged in a fun learning environment, playing in small area games and other compete-type stations.
Registration is limited. The cost is $435 and $350 for goalies.

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Soccer

Micro Huskies (All genders)

• July 3-7, 2023

• July 10-14, 2023

Half Day 9 a.m.-noon, Full Day 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Drop-off/pick-up 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Ages 5-7

Micro Huskies allows young players to develop physical literacy and fundamental movement skills like running, jumping, landing, passing and dribbling in a fun setting built around play and positive reinforcement.
The cost is $125 for a half day and $200 for a full day.

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Mini Huskies (All genders)

• July 3-7, 2023

• July 10-14, 2023

Half Day 9 a.m.-noon, Full Day 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Drop-off/pick-up 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Ages 8-10

Mini Huskies allows players to develop their movement ABCs - agility, balance, coordination and speed - and learn the fundamentals of the game while emphasizing fun, cooperation and maximum time on the ball within a challenging environment.
The cost is $125 for a half day and $200 for a full day.

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Jr. Huskies (All genders)

• July 3-7, 2023

• July 10-14, 2023

Half Day 9 a.m.-noon, Full Day 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Ages 11-13

Junior Huskies is geared toward players looking to improve their skills and soccer IQ. The sessions will focus on advanced soccer skills and introducing position-specific techniques and concepts.
The cost is $125 for a half day and $200 for a full day.

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Volleyball

Girls

• August 21-25, 2023

• August 28-September 1, 2023

9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Ages 12-18

The overall goal of this camp is to provide an environment where volleyball players can develop their skills and have fun playing the game. Campers will be grouped by age and/or experience level (preference can be accommodated to provide social experience within the context of the camp goals - campers can choose to change groups if they prefer). Classroom sessions will be included (for example strength training, sports taping, nutrition, etc.).

Registration is capped at 80 campers. The cost is $250.

Football

All genders

July 24-26, 2023
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Ages 6-12 (Non-contact) & 9-14 (Contact)

Full gear required for contact camp. Cost for non-contact camp is $150 and cost for contact camp is $190.

Thinking, Making, Crafting: Crafts___Ship

Photo: Pam Corell

Learn about the latest exhibit at the Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery, Crafts___Ship, in an article for Billie by Elissa Barnard.

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By: Elissa Barnard, Billie: Visual ∙ Culture ∙ Atlantic

In Crafts___Ship: Carley Mullally, Gillian Maradyn-Jowsey and Inbal Newman, three Nova Scotia artists distort the notion of craft as a female domestic art in a cheerful, cozy show steeped in the Maritimes’  history of rural life and seafaring at Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery.

To walk into the gallery is to enter a playful, storybook home of multi-coloured, ceramic candlesticks, a cozy heart towel and a dory with yellow, blue and orange pompoms and tassels. While bringing humour and whimsy to their work, this trio is rigorously contemporary in examining gender, women’s history, Nova Scotia craft history and the value and nature of craft itself.

Related news and events:

• Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery website

• Crafts___Ship: Open Studio workshops, March 15, 2023

Celebrating African Heritage Month

February 1 marks the official start of African Heritage Month in Nova Scotia, a time to celebrate the rich history, culture and contributions of people of African descent.

The 2023 theme, Seas of Struggle – African Peoples from Shore to Shore, honours the strength and determination of people of African descent from the shores of Africa to the shores of Nova Scotia and reflects the key role the sea has played in this history.

To help mark the month's significance, the tri-colour Pan-African flag will be raised in front of the McNally building. The red, black and green flag was created in 1920 to represent the people of the African Diaspora. 

At Saint Mary’s, in addition to events listed below, we will be celebrating BIPOC members of our community on @smuhuskies with Black student athlete profiles featured throughout the month, and within the February edition of the Saint Mary's Entrepreneurship Centre's newsletter, The Entrepreneurial Minute, with a spotlight on BIPOC entrepreneurs. Be sure to subscribe to SMUEC's monthly newsletter here to receive the next edition in your inbox at the end of the month!

Related stories

• The Turner Bursary for African Canadian and Indigenous Women

• Black joy on campus: Reflections from student Fisson Tibbo

• Huskies host Black Heritage Night basketball doubleheader

• Creating a Black Student Society at SMU: Reflections from inaugural president, Oratile Mogae 

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Patrick Power Library

Throughout February, the Patrick Power Library is featuring a collection of library resources for African Heritage Month, on display on the ground floor of the library. Book recommendations will be shared online throughout the month on our social channels (@smuhfxlibrary). All books can be borrowed with your SMU ID card. Browse the full African Heritage Month collection online: bit.ly/pplDisplays

Related: Patrick Power Library & Student Affairs share literary display for African Heritage Month

Dynamic Rural Business Series

Monday, February 6
5–8 p.m.

The Black Business Initiative (BBI) and the Sobey School of Business are launching the Rural Black Businesses Series at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

The focus of this event is to bring together rural NS black entrepreneurs and create a space to discuss their challenges and their successes.

CCDI Webinar: Unlearning anti-Black racism

Thursday, February 9
2–3 p.m.

The conversation around anti-Black racism has mostly focused on strategies for eliminating racism within organizations and communal settings. However, tools and strategies can only go so far when we have been socially conditioned into anti-Blackness. In this webinar, we will explore how we can unlearn internalized anti-Black racism.

This webinar is presented by The Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI).

Saint Mary's Huskies celebrate Black Heritage Month with community events

The Saint Mary's University Department of Athletics is proud to announce its celebration of Black Heritage Month this February, including our 'Black Heritage Day Basketball Doubleheader' on Saturday, February 11.

Throughout the month, Saint Mary's University will be highlighting some of our many incredible Black student-athletes whose impacts and achievements are important pieces of Huskies history, today, and every day.

On February 11, Saint Mary's will showcase a range of cultural events and activities at our women's and men's basketball games against crosstown rival Dalhousie Tigers.

Learn more

Movie night for Black students: Love and Basketball

Wednesday, February 15
Library Classroom
6:30 p.m.

Join us for a screening of the movie Love and Basketball. Hosted in collaboration with the Black Student Coordinator and Patrick Power Library. Snacks provided.

Kemet Udjat: An African Heritage Month film festival

March 13–15
5–8 p.m.
Scotiabank Conference Theatre (SB 201)

Register here 

Join us for three nights of film screenings, discussions and light refreshments. The films will all be shown in person, and the March 14 film will also be available for viewing online. More details to follow.

• Monday, March 13: Le Mythe de la femme noire (2023, 1 hr 34 mins), directed by Ayana O’Shun

• Tuesday, March 14: I Am Not Your Negro (2016, 1 hr 35 mins), directed by Raoul Peck
  (Note: This film will be available to view in person and online.)   

• Wednesday, March 15: Nowhere in Africa (2001, 2 hrs 21 mins), directed by Caroline Link

Presented by Dr. Jean-Blaise Samou, Francophone & Intercultural Studies, with the support of the Office of the Associate Vice-President Diversity & Excellence and the Alliance Française Halifax

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Resources

• Lynn Jones African Canadian & Diaspora Collection

• African Descended/Black Student Support

• African Heritage Month events in Halifax
  
  
  

Saint Mary's to host CFL's Touchdown Atlantic 2023

The east coast's biggest celebration of football – Touchdown Atlantic – will return to the region on Saturday, July 29, 2023 as the defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts will take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Huskies Stadium in Halifax, N.S.

"Saint Mary's University is pleased to welcome the Toronto Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders to Huskies Stadium in Halifax this summer," said Scott Gray, Saint Mary's Director of Athletics & Recreation. "This is a wonderful opportunity for our campus and community, and in particular, our football program, to experience the excitement of professional football. We are very grateful to the CFL for this incredible opportunity to play host to this event."

The regular season match-up is set for Huskies Stadium on the campus of Saint Mary's University, with kick-off at 5 p.m. in Halifax (Atlantic Standard Time), which is 4 p.m. in Ontario (Eastern Time) and 2 p.m. in Saskatchewan (Central Standard Time).

"Touchdown Atlantic brings our fans together in a fun and exciting way," said Randy Ambrosie, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

"It's our way of showing our friends in Atlantic Canada that they're an important part of the CFL family – and inviting our fans from across the country to 'come for the game and stay for a vacation.'"

Next year's edition builds on the success of Touchdown Atlantic in 2022. Last summer's game, also played between Saskatchewan and Toronto, sold out in less than 24 hours and featured a packed house of 10,866 at Raymond Field on the campus of Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S.

Through job creation and wages, event expenditures and spending by out-of-town travellers, the event supported more than $12.7 million in overall economic activity across Nova Scotia. Tourism operators say Halifax is ready for CFL football – and another strong contingent of visiting CFL fans.

The Saint Mary's University football program is one of the most successful in the country and one of the most popular in the region. The Huskies have reached the Vanier Cup nine times, winning the national championship of Canadian university football on three occasions (1973, 2001 and 2002).

"Saint Mary's University has a proud tradition of excellence for student-athletes – including in Huskies' football," adds Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, President and Vice-Chancellor of Saint Mary's University. "The opportunity to host the CFL's Touchdown Atlantic football game in July 2023 is an opportunity to demonstrate this proud tradition to a national audience. We are delighted to partner with the Canadian Football League in this initiative to bring superior athletes to our campus and to Atlantic Canada."

Ticket details for Touchdown Atlantic 2023 will be announced in the new year. Fans can subscribe to the CFL Newsletter for the latest updates and information.

QUOTES

"I am thrilled to welcome the CFL back to Halifax for the 2023 Touchdown Atlantic game. This past season we hosted several events that re-introduced fans from across the region and the country to our Atlantic hospitality as a sports city. Halifax is excited to be the host city for the rematch between the Roughriders and the Argonauts. Having the game in Halifax will allow us to give the CFL and its fans an experience that will have them coming back for more."
​– Mayor Mike Savage, Halifax Regional Municipality

"There are few, if any, places on the planet I enjoy visiting more than Atlantic Canada. You've opened your arms to us in the past and welcomed us like family members and I celebrate your formidable history of embracing others. We once again are looking forward to your unique hospitality; a combination of warm hearts, down home music and some of the most delectable food imaginable. We look forward to being the home team on July 29, and to being the visiting team in the future when the CFL permanently calls Atlantic Canada home."
​– Michael "Pinball" Clemons, General Manager, Toronto Argonauts

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to return to Halifax after an incredible visit for Touchdown Atlantic in 2022. The people of Nova Scotia welcomed us with open arms and it was so special to see how many of our fans traveled thousands of miles to join us. I know I speak for all Rider Nation when I say we can't wait to go back and share that amazing East Coast experience again in 2023!"
​– Craig Reynolds, President and CEO, Saskatchewan Roughriders 

"Halifax was host to many successful Touchdown Atlantic related events last year, so we're very pleased the CFL is bringing the game itself to our region. Halifax has a reputation as a great sports city, from hosting international sporting events to supporting our local teams, and the tourism sector is ready to showcase our region and hospitality to CFL fans and visitors."
​– Ross Jefferson, President and CEO, Discover Halifax

VIDEO: A holiday message from our president

Please enjoy this short video that reflects all that Saint Mary’s has accomplished this year. If so inspired, please share with your networks by using the Share function above.

Best wishes for a happy and safe holiday!

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women at Saint Mary’s

Saint Mary’s University students, faculty and staff gathered on December 6 to honour and acknowledge the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. 

The reflective event was led by Deborah Brothers-Scott, Director, Diversity and Inclusion. Raymond Sewell, Assistant Professor, opened the event with two captivating Indigenous songs, and Miriam H. Schroedor MA’71 2017 read a poem titled “I am a woman.”  

Saint Mary’s faculty members Dr. Erin Adlakha, Dr. Aldona Wiacek, and Dean of Science Dr. Lori Francis reflected on their own experiences, facing and overcoming opposition in their careers.  

Every year, a scholarship is awarded to a young woman studying Engineering at Saint Mary’s. Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray and SMUSA President Isobel Tyler presented the scholarship to this year’s recipient, Jade Cameron. 

Students, SMUSA representatives, and faculty carefully placed 14 roses in a large vase to commemorate the 14 women who were killed at the l’École Polytechnique in Montreal on December 6, 1989. Those women are: 

• Geneviève Bergeron 

• Hélène Colgan 

• Nathalie Croteau 

• Barbara Daigneault 

• Anne-Marie Edward 

• Maud Haviernick 

• Maryse Laganière 

• Maryse Leclair 

• Anne-Marie Lemay 

• Sonia Pelletier 

• Michèle Richard 

• Annie St-Arneault 

• Annie Turcotte 

• Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz 

“It is necessary that we continue to mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on December 6 each year,” says Dee Dooley, Sexual Violence Advisor. “We remember and honour the lives of the 14 women engineers who were taking up space that was and is theirs to take. It is necessary that we reflect on the meaning of this day, and the impact of violence on the lives of those who experience it.”  

Saint Mary’s students research Sable Island horse skulls

Sable Island is a place of mystery and history, a remote island in the North Atlantic fabled for its sand dunes and shipwrecks, and almost impossible for the average person to access. But for naturalists and biologists, there is much to learn, especially from studying the wild horses who thrive there.  

On a November evening, dozens of Haligonians gathered in the McNally Theatre Auditorium to hear the latest Sable Island research and get up close to the skulls of these unique horses collected over 30 years by Zoe Lucas, President of the Sable Island Institute.  Katharyn Chadwick and Richard Orton, doctoral students at Saint Mary’s University, collaborated on the project with the Sable Island Institute, Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History and was possible due to funding from SMU Works. The project involved 716 skulls and more than 13,000 measurements and over 6000 photographs. Members of the public were invited to ​view​ the skulls on display, ask questions​,​ and even carefully touch the specimens. ​Two​ skull​s​ stood out​, one​ for ​a​​ ​large growth protruding from the upper jaw and ​the other for an ​odd deterioration​ and pitting of the​ lower jaw.  The researchers want to know if anyone can suggest what caused th​ese​ malformation​s; suggestions include a bone abscess or tumour, and a root canal abscess​.  

More importantly, why study this group of horses and their skulls for clues about their development,​ variation in skull morphology and age?​ Richard and Katharyn explain that ​​since the horses first arrived on Sable Island there have been numerous introductions of other horse breeds, to improve breeding stock, provide additional labour and produce foals for resale back on the mainland. This has likely led to a complex mixing of the population, with genetic work revealing traces of Morgan, Clydesdale, and Thoroughbred.​ Sable Island horses have been isolated for at least 50 years and it is common that island populations exhibit unique traits.

“However, we do not always understand the biological mechanisms underpinning such unique adaptations,” says Katharyn Chadwick. “ Therefore, a deeper understanding of the ​skull ​morphology might further our understanding of the evolution of the Sable Island horses​ and highlight any unusual morphologies unique to this population​​.”

One of the main aims of the project was to catalogue this unique collection, photographing each skull, estimating age, and noting gender unusual features, post-mortem/storage damage and injuries. Finally, thousands of bagged teeth were paired with the correct skulls.​​     ​​ 

​​​From the teeth, several well-described aging metrics commonly used in equine studies were recorded for each horse. Using data collected by Zoe Lucas on known age horses, the researchers hope to confirm the suitable use of these metrics for the Sable Island horses.​​     ​​ 

“Kate and Richard’s study of the horse skulls is an important contribution to the Sable Island Institute’s long-term research program. There is still much to be learned from the collection, and now we have a detailed inventory and preliminary data that will assist in planning follow-up work,” says Zoe Lucas. “This unique and extensive reference collection will enable the Institute to study variations within the Sable population. It will also provide a basis for comparisons with other groups and breeds of horses, as well as with Sable Island horses living on the Island decades from now. This project has been a very productive and encouraging collaboration, and the Sable Island Institute looks forward to further work with Saint Mary’s University and the Nova Scotia Museum.”

Both PhD candidates have travelled from other countries to pursue their studies at the Frasier Lab at Saint Mary’s University. In addition to their research project on the Sable Island horses, they will be addressing conservation concerns of the North Atlantic Right Whale using different genetic approaches. Specifically, Katharyn Chadwick’s thesis is centered on understanding how ship strikes and non-lethal entanglements lead to ​changes in ​gene​     ​​ expression​​     ​​ via epigenetic​ modifications, while Richard Orton is assessing the impact of genetic mutation on reproductive success in North Atlantic Right Whales. 

Celebrating 45 years of shared learning

A unique partnership between Saint Mary’s University and Halifax Public Libraries reached a milestone anniversary this fall, with 45 years of shared learning through the ‘University Classes for Everyone’ program. A birthday celebration took place November 23 at Halifax Central Library to mark the occasion.

“It is remarkable, as we understand it, that there is no other partnership quite like this between a university and a library or library system in Canada,” Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, Saint Mary’s President and Vice-Chancellor, said in his remarks at the event

The program has delivered 158 courses since 1977, mostly in the past and present Spring Garden Road library locations. Saint Mary’s students take the courses for credits toward their degrees, while sharing the experience alongside members of the public who are able to attend the classes for free.

People of all ages enjoy the courses for “pure curiosity, and that is a beautiful thing,” said Åsa Kachan, Chief Librarian and CEO for Halifax Public Libraries, adding that the downtown library location has also given many university students from around the world a sense of connection to where they live.

“As you know at Saint Mary’s, we very much place a premium on the value of engaging with the community,” said Summerby-Murray. “It’s part of what we mean when we talk about creating a world without limits. It includes ways in which we bring the sense of research, discovery, innovation and problem solving into the wider community, into the world around us.”

For both students and members of the public, lifelong learning in the arts and humanities is central to being an active citizen in a democracy, said Kachan.

“It helps us understand the world around us, it offers up new perspectives, it challenges us to think critically. It helps us understand the past, and imagine a different future. As we in our society are faced with so many challenges, it is the social sciences and humanities that will help us respond to those, and provide the context for thinking about how we respond to big issues like climate change and health care and disinformation,” she said.

A history of shared learning

The program has come a long way since its early days. Some library patrons weren’t quite sure what to make of it at first—some even shushed the professors in the first year or two!

“Luckily, the early champions of this program stayed firm and here we are 45 years later,” said Kachan.

Those champions included John Battye, director of Continuing Education at Saint Mary’s in the 1970s, and Joan Brown Hicks, then coordinator of community services for Halifax Public Libraries, who forged the initial partnership.

The breadth of subject matter has been vast through the years, with courses covering everything from “Media Psychology” and “Historic Dynamics of Clothing and Fashion” to “Literatures and Cultures of the African Diaspora” and “Anthropology of the COVID-19 Pandemic”.

The celebration was well attended by library staff, professors, former students and members of the public who attend classes. They were all treated to a mini-lecture, “Exotic for Whom? Decolonizing the Grocery Aisle," presented by Dr. Rohini Bannerjee, Associate Vice-President, Diversity Excellence.

“I love teaching at the library … long may it continue!” Dr. Tim Stretton, a history professor, said during the reception afterward. The diversity of community voices adds a whole other level of adrenaline, enthusiasm and expert knowledge to the class discussions, he said. “They ask really good questions, and their enthusiasm is worth its weight in gold.”

What’s up next?

Coming up at Halifax Central Library in the Winter 2023 term, ENGL 1230: Literature and the Environment will be taught with two different approaches. Prof. Raymond Sewell will bring an Indigenous perspective to the subject, focusing on symbolic literature and culture, while Dr. Renée Hulan will bring a climate change focus to the course.

Video: Sobeys Inspiration Hub Update

The newest addition to campus—the Sobeys Inspiration Hub—opens in Fall ’23. Watch for a behind-the-scenes tour of this inspiring building in progress.

A place for possibility: the new Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre

Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre team members review and discuss the building plans. From right to left: Jada Joseph, Project Manager; Natasha Fernandes, Student Project Assistant; Michael Sanderson, Director and Chirag Narang, Project Manager.

Saint Mary's University has a rich history of fostering economic growth in Atlantic Canada and the people who are the driving force behind it, and its Sobey School of Business is synonymous with entrepreneurial success. More than 75 start-ups have been created by Saint Mary’s students, faculty members, alumni and partners in the past five years alone.  

Building on this strong track record of helping launch new businesses, and with the generous support of the university’s donors and supporters, the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre (SMUEC) is preparing to move into its new home in the Sobeys Inspiration Hub. Set to open in fall 2023, this 43,000-square-foot four-storey building is the cornerstone of a 62,000-square-foot capital project that extends from the Sobey School of Business to the Loyola Academic Building.  

"We envision a space that provides a full suite of services that enable students to take a start-up or business idea from concept to actualization—all in one place on campus," says Michael Sanderson, the Director of SMUEC. " We are a place for people to come together and develop entrepreneurial skills that can help further their studies and career. 

With a focus on growth, innovation and cultivating the entrepreneurial mindset, the Saint Mary's University Entrepreneurship Centre is committed to helping the Atlantic Canadian economy grow and prosper. A university-wide and interdisciplinary support centre, SMUEC's physical expansion will support the vast array of programming, such as training, mentorship and coaching, offered by the centre and provide the foundation to expand and fill the growing demand for their services. 
 
“I am so honoured to have been supporting students through their entrepreneurial experiences over the past two years,” says Shannon Byrne Susko BCom’89 BSc’92, a former Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Saint Mary’s and the Founder and CEO of Metronomics. “The new space for the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre will allow for further collaboration between faculties, and also bring in an additional level of innovation that we’ve been working towards with initiatives such as the March Madness Pitch Competition.” 

As the Sobeys Inspiration Hub takes shape, so does the entrepreneurship centre’s new home. What remains constant is that a variety of opportunities that will be made available to entrepreneurial-minded students and faculty from across all faculties. 

The services envisioned include: 

• digital prototyping lab 

  • This area will be dedicated to digital product design, enabling students to ideate and create prototypes in a virtual environment using state-of-the-art prototyping software. 

• podcasting studio 

  • From weekly podcasts to influencer videos, this space is open for booking to support students creating original content for online audiences. 

• collider spaces 

  • Open collaboration spaces that are modular and feature additional smaller areas to focus on different styles of collaboration and projects. 

• incubator space 

  • A start-up area dedicated to supporting local community businesses and emerging entrepreneurs as they move on from the idea phase.  

• dedicated interdisciplinary space.  

"While the exact nature and dedicated areas may change, we are focused on providing opportunities for our students, faculty, staff, alumni and local community to come together and exchange ideas," shares Sanderson. 

Alumni and the local community play a critical role in the support and services provided by the SMUEC. From the entrepreneurs and alumni-in-residence programs supported through the philanthropic investment of the RBC Talent Hub to guest speakers and mentorship, SMUEC connects students with the larger community. Through co-operative education and internship placements, training, Entrepreneurial Mindset Success Certificate, and experts, the RBC Talent Hub provides students more hands-on learning opportunities. The skills developed through this program give students a leg up in the job hunt and help them to excel in the workplace post-graduation.  

"From my time as a student to now working at the entrepreneurship centre, our alumni and connection with the local entrepreneurship community have been so important to supporting students," says Leslie Arsenault Bcomm’19, Project Manager with SMUEC. "I've seen student-led businesses receive key advice from community mentors at vital times in their growth. I've heard from students and alumni whose careers and businesses wouldn't exist without what they learned at Saint Mary's University and the support they received from SMUEC."  

"We are excited to create new memories and opportunities for collaboration and innovation," says Monique Boudreau, the Manager of Operations and Community Engagement with SMUEC. "We've received great feedback and insights from different university areas to get to this stage, and we are incredibly grateful for that support. We can't wait to celebrate the opening of the Sobeys Inspiration Hub, the Exchange and the new entrepreneurship centre." 

Telling unheard stories: unlocking museum collections

The soul of a community is embodied by culture and the telling of stories, but what happens when the stories told are not aligned with lived experiences? Partnering with the Association of Nova Scotia Museums and communities across Nova Scotia, Dr. Kirrily Freeman is working to help museums unlock their collections and ensure that history is told accurately. Her students gain experience ensuring that the history and heritage of African Nova Scotian, Acadian, Gaelic and Mi’kmaq communities are better represented in Nova Scotian museums.  

“Community engagement is integral to the whole process,” says Dr. Freeman. “Communities are telling us what is needed, what is missing and what needs to be done to move forward. This knowledge will influence not just how we proceed but hopefully will shape the future of museum work in the province.” 

Maggie MacIntyre, Executive Director of the Association of Nova Scotia Museums, is excited about the short and long-term benefits of this partnership with Saint Mary's.

“Working with students is giving us the capacity to move community-centered work forward,” she says. “In the long run, we see it playing a big role in creating the next generation of museum professionals.”   

Dr. Freeman says their priority is to ensure marginalized groups have access to their communities’ histories and material culture. “We all benefit from having a more inclusive, more nuanced, more comprehensive representation of the past.”

Did you know? Dr. Kirrily Freeman is piloting two new courses, ‘Museum Fundamentals: Unlocking Community Collections’ and ‘Heritage Field Placement’, as part of a newly proposed Public Humanities and Heritage major in the Faculty of Arts.  

Related stories:

• In her own words: An inspiring introduction to the Lynn Jones Collection

• Faculty of Arts appoints Dr. Kirrily Freeman as Director of Outreach and Experiential Learning

• What’s in a name? For the Ta’n Weji-sqalia’tiek Mi’kmaw Place Names Project, a Lot

President Robert Summerby-Murray awarded Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal

Lieutenant Governor Arthur J. LeBlanc and Saint Mary’s University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray.

Saint Mary’s University is pleased to share the news that President, Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray, has been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for ‘exceptional qualities and outstanding service to our Province in the field of Education.’    

The award was presented by the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, Arthur J. LeBlanc, ONS, KC, at a ceremony held at Government House on October 18, 2022. The commemorative medal is presented in honour of the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s succession to the throne and is awarded to residents of Nova Scotia who have made significant contributions to Canada, Nova Scotia, their community, or to their fellow citizens.  

Throughout his decades-long career and since joining Saint Mary’s University as President in 2015, Dr. Summerby-Murray has been a noted champion of higher education in Canada and abroad. He is active on the boards of Universities Canada, the Association of Atlantic Universities, the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents, Atlantic University Sports, and the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation Presidents’ Cohort Group on ‘Universities and Social Infrastructure’. Recently, he has focused on initiatives to support veteran-friendly campuses and to prevent racism on campus through participation in national initiatives such as the BlackNorth Initiative education committee and the Scarborough National Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Inclusion. He has just completed a two-year term as board chair of the Canadian Bureau of International Education and remains committed to international education and the global nature of the academy. 

The entire Saint Mary’s University community joins with Dr. Summerby-Murray and his family in celebrating his contributions to education and community and this well-deserved recognition.